Insulating housing type circuit breaker



1965 F. GELZHEISER ETAL 3,

INSULATING HOUSING TYPE CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Sept. 26, 1960 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.2.

WITNESSESI INVENTORS I Q Francis L. Gelzheiser and GB Q 5 Wesle y L.Baum.

BY WM w W 214 ATTORNEY Oct. 19, 1965 F. GELZHEISER ETAL 3,213,241

INSULATING HOUSING TYPE CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Sept. 26. 1960 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 19, 1965 F. GELZHEISER ETAL 3,213,241

INSULATING HOUSING TYPE CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Sept. 26, 1960 4Sheets-Sheet 5 :CDI

Fig. 8.

Oct. 19, 1965 F. GELZHEISER ETAL 3,213,241

INSULATING HOUSING TYPE CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Sept. 26. 1960 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. l0.

United States Patent Ofiice 3,213,241 Patented Oct. 19, 1965 3,213,241INSULATING HQUSHNG TYPE CllRCUiT BREAKER Francis L. Gelzheiser andWesley L. Baum, Fairfield,

Conm, assignors to Westinghouse Electric Corporation,

East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Sept. 26,1960, Ser. No. 58,371 14 Claims. (Cl. 20116) This invention relates toelectric circuit breakers and more particularly to manually andautomatically operable circuit breakers for controlling small andmoderate power electric circuits.

For certain applications, electric power supplying companies providespecial low rates for power consumed during the off-peak hours. Forexample, power to heat water heaters is, in some instances, sold at acheaper rate during the off-peak hours, of for example, 8 pm. to 7 am.The power supplying company, in these cases, provides the consumer witha special meter which is separate from the main meter. The special meterrecords the amount of power consumed through a separate circuit which isindependent of the main circuits that are protected at the load center.

An object of this invention is to provide improved means for protectingoff-peak meter circuits.

A space saving economical circuit breaker that is becoming popular is ofa duplex or two-compartment type that has a clip-n type terminalstructure which is common to both compartments and clips on to aconductor that carries power to a load center or panelboard.

Another object of the invention is to provide a circuit breaker of theduplex type that clips on to a conductor for support, but which protectsa circuit that is independent of the conductor.

A further object is to provide a duplex or two-compartment type circuitbreaker that protects a circuit that passes first through one and thenthrough the other of the two circuit breaker compartments.

It is desirable under certain conditions to lock a circuit breaker toprevent accidental manual operation of the breaker.

Accordingly, another object of the invention is to provide novel meansfor locking the operating handle of the circuit breaker in either the onor the off position.

A further object is to provide a circuit identification tab that coversan information label which tab has a clear portion and a roughened oretched portion. The tab fits over the top of the label. Circuitinformation can be written on the roughened portion and, when the tab isin place, the label information can be seen through the clear portion.

For certain applications, especialiy around gasoline stations orhazardous gaseous areas, safety requirements dictate that a power supplycircuit and a neutral circuit be switched simultaneously.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a circuit breakerthat can be operated to simultaneously open and close both a powercircuit and a neutral circuit, which circuit breaker operates to openthe neutral circuit when an automatic tripping operation occurs in thepower circuit.

Another object of this invention is to provide a circuit breaker thatcan be clipped on to a conductor in a load center and that can beoperated to simultaneously open and close both a power circuit and aneutral circuit, which circuit breaker operates to open the neutralcircuit when an automatic tripping operation occurs in the powercircuit.

Other objects of the invention will be explained fully hereinafter orwill be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In accordance wtih one embodiment of the invention, a duplex ortwo-compartment type circuit breaker is provided with a clip-onstructure that clips on to a conductor in a load center to support thecircuit breaker. One of the two compartments houses a circuitinterrupting unit that includes separable contacts, an operatingmechanism for operating the contacts and means for automaticallytripping the unit upon the occurrence of predetermined overload currentconditions. The other of the two compartments is empty except for aconducting member. The conducting member includes a part that crossesover between the two compartments, so that the circuit to be protectedextends into one end of the circuit interrupting compartment and throughthe length of that compartment, across to the other compartment, throughthe length of the other compartment to pass out of the other compartmentat the same end of the circuit breaker at which the circuit entered thebreaker. Insulating means are provided between the clip-on structure andthe conducting parts within the breaker that carry the circult to beprotected. Thus, the circuit breaker can be clipped on to a conductor ina load center for support only, and be used to protect a circuit, suchas an off-peak meter circuit, that is independent from the conductor.

The circuit breaker housing is provided with an elongated projectionhaving a notch therein at each of its opposite ends, which projection ismolded integral with the housing in proximity to one or both of theoperating handles. A locking member which can be a rigid wire or anyother suitable material, fits over one of the handles and has a partthereof that engages in one of the notches to lock the handle in eitherthe on or the off position.

A plastic circuit identification tab snaps into position over aninformation label. The tab has a roughened or etched portion upon whichis written certain circuit identification information, and a clearportion through which information on the label can be seen.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, aswitching-neutral type breaker is provided which includes two duplex ortwo-compartment type circuit breakers fastened together. One of thetwo-compartment type breakers comprises an empty compartment and acompartment that houses an interrupting unit that includes separablecontacts, an operating mechanism for operating the contacts and meansfor automatically opening the circuit upon the occurrence of overloadconditions. This breaker has a clip-on structure that clips on to aconductor in the load center to energize the circuit interrupting unit.The circuit interrupting unit of this breaker is used to control thepower circuit. The other two-compartment type circuit breaker includes aswitching unit housed in one of the compartments which switching unitcomprises separable contacts and an operating mechanism for operatingthe contacts; but it does not necessarily include means forautomatically opening the circuit. The other compartment is empty exceptfor a conducting member that passes lengthwise through the unit similarto the conducting member of the previously described off-peak circuitbreaker. The conducting member is part of a crossover member that isinsulated from the clip-on type structure of this breaker so that aneutral circuit can pass into the switching compartment and out throughthe other compartment of the breaker which circuit is entirelyindependent and insulated from the power supplying conductor of the loadcenter. The operating handles of the power circuit interrupting unit andthe neutral circuit interrupting unit of the adjacent circuit breakersare connected by lost-motion connection means. The mechanisms of both ofthe connected interrupting units and the handle tie arrangement operatein such a manner that when the power circuit interrupting unit istripped open automatically upon the occurrence of overload currentconditions in the power circuit, the mechanism of this unit, through thehandle tie, automatically operates the operating handle of theneutral-circuit interrupting unit to open the neutral-circuitinterrupting unit.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of the inventionare set forth in particular in the appended claims. The inventionitself, however, both as to structure and operation, together withadditional objects and advantage thereof, will be best understood fromthe following detailed description when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an end view, with parts broken away, of a duplex typecircuit breaker embodying principal features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view taken substantially along line II1I of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view taken substantially along line IIIIIIof FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view taken substantially along line IVIV of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the circuit breaker of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of part of theconducting and cross-over member of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view taken substantially along lineVII-VII of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the locking member of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the circuit identification tab of thisinvention;

FIG. 10 is an end view, partly in section, of two connected duplex typecircuit breakers illustrating a different embodiment of this invention;and

FIG. 11 is a view taken substantially along line XI-XI of FIG. 10.

Certain features of the circuit breakers of this invention are describedand claimed in the copending patent application of F. L. Gelzheiser,Serial No. 51,963, filed August 25, 1960, and assigned to the assigneeof the instant application.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a duplex of twocompartment typecircuit breaker indicated generally at 9 includes an insulating housingwhich is composed of two parts 11 and 13, forming two compartments. Eachof the parts 11 and 13 is composed of a back portion molded integralwith four sides forming an open front. The open front of the part 11 iscovered by the back portion of the part 13, and the open front of thepart 13 is covered by a cover 15. The three housing parts 11, 13 and 15are held rigidly together by three rivets 16 (FIG. 2).

Two symmetrically constructed clip-on type members of resilient material17 (FIG. 3) are provided for clipping on to a conductor in a load centerto support the circuit breaker. The clip-on members 17 are held in placeby means of ridges 18 (FIG. 2) which are molded integral with thecircuit breaker housing. An insulating member 19 (FIG. 7) is providedfor insulating the clip-on members 17 from the internal structure of thecircuit breaker.

The operating and tripping mechanism of a circuit interrupting unitwhich is housed in the compartment 11 is described and claimed in thepatent to F. L. Gelzheiser, Patent No. 3,110,786, issued Nov. 12, 1963.

Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawings, the circuit interrupting unit showntherein comprises a stationary contact 21, a cooperating movable contact23, a supporting metal frame indicated generally at 25, an operatingmechanism indicated generally at 27 and a trip device indicatedgenerally at 29.

The stationary contact 21 is welded, or otherwise attached, to across-over conducting member indicated generally at 31. As waspreviously mentioned, the crosslover conducting member 31 is insulatedfrom the clip-on members 17 which may be metallic, by means of the insulating member 19.

The stationary contact 21 cooperates with the movable contact 23 that iswelded or otherwise attached to a small flange 40 of a generallyC-shapcd contact or switch arm 41. The switch arm 41 is operated to theopen and closed positions by means of an operating member indicatedgenerally at 43 having a V-shaped opening 45 therein, which openingreceives a projection 4-7 of the metallic frame 25. The operating member4-3 is biased outwardly, or upwards as seen in FIG. 2, by means to behereinafter described, to a position wherein the lower edges of theprojection 47 pivotally engage the side walls of the V- shaped opening45. The switch arm 41 is bent over its upper end at 48 and an opening orslot (not shown) is stamped in the part 48 to receive a portion of theoperating member 43 which extends into the slot to position theoperating member relative to the switch arm. Pivot depressions 51 areprovided in the bent-over part 48 of the switch arm 41. Pivotingportions 55 are provided on opposite sides of the projection 53 of theoperating member 13. The pivoting portions 55 pivotally engage in thedepressions 51 in the switch arm 41. The operating member 43 has ahandle portion 57 molded integral therewith which extends through anopening 61 in the housing whereby the mechanism may be manually operatedto open and close the breaker. Arcuate surfaces 63 on opposite sides ofthe handle 57 substantially close the opening 61 in all positions of theoperating member 43. Motion is transmitted from the operating member 43to the switch arm 41 when the breaker is manually operated, and from theswitch arm 41 to the operating member 43 when the breaker isautomatically tripped open.

The frame 25 supports an insulating pivot 65, and a trip member 79 ispivotally supported at one end 80 by means of a bight portion that ispivotally supported in a slot in the insulating pivot 65. The other end82 of the trip member 79 has a latch point 83 which rests on a ledge 85on an armature 36, to support the trip member 79 in latched position.The armature 86 is part of the trip device 79 which will be describedlater.

The ends 81) and 82 of the trip member 79 are offset, and disposed in aplane which is parallel to a plane in which the main body portion of thetrip member 79 is disposed. A spring 88 is connected, under tension, atone end in a slot 89 in the contact arm 41, and at the other end in aslot in a projection 93 extending from the trip member '79.

The movable switch arm 41 is connected by means of a flexible conductor95 to the free end of a bimetal 97 which is attached, near its other orupper end, to a projection 101 extending out from the supporting frame25. A terminal conductor N3 is Welded or otherwise attached to the upperend of the bimetal 7 to electrically connect the bimetal to a terminalstructure that is indicated generally at 104. Since the movable switcharm 41 extends downwardly from its pivot, upon opening of the contacts21, 23, an arc is established adjacent the bottom of the housing in anarc chamber 111, one end of which is connected by a vent passage 113, toan opening in the end of the housing beneath the terminal structure 104.

The circuit interrupting unit may be manually operated to open and closethe contacts by operation of the insulating handle 57. The circuitinterrupting unit is shown in the closed or on position in FIG. 2.Movement of the handle 57 clockwise carries the upper end of the switcharm 41 to the left of the line of action of the spring 88, whereupon thespring acts to move the contact arm 41 with a snap action to the open oroff position. A projection 199 molded integral with the housing acts asa limit stop for the movable contact arm during an opening operation.When it is desired to then manually close the circuit interrupter, theoperating handle 57 is moved counterclockwise back to the on position inwhich it is shown in FIG. 2, which movement moves the upper end of theswitch arm to the right to move the parts to the closed position shown.Movement of the handle 57 is limited by the surfaces 115 which strikethe housing at either extreme position. The modified knife-edge bearingsof the projection 47 of the frame within the side-walls of the openingof the operating member 43, and of the pivoting portions of theoperating member 43 with the pivots 51 of the switch arm 41, encounterlittle friction and, therefore, provide a smooth long-life action typeof mechanism.

The trip device 29 includes the bimetal 97, a U-shaped magnet member117, the armature 86 which is pivotally supported on the bimetal 97, anda spring 119 which biases the armature in a counterclockwise directionabout its pivot. Upon the occurrence of an overload current below apredetermined amount, the bimetal element 97 becomes heated, and itdeflects to the right as seen in FIG. 2. Due to the engagement of a tailportion 121 of the armature 36 with the bimetal 97, the armature iscarried to the right with the bimetal to release the trip member 79.

When the trip member 79 is released, the spring 88 acts to rotate itclockwise about its pivot until it is arrested when a stop portion 133thereon strikes the projection 109 of the housing. During this movement,the line of action of the spring 88 moves to the right of the pivot 55,51 of the switch arm 41, whereupon the spring 88 operates to move theswitch arm to the open position. During this movement the line of actionof the force exerted by the switch arm 41 on the operating member 43,shifts across the pivot 45, 47 and moves the operating member 43 in aclockwise direction. In order to provide a visual indication that thebreaker has been automatically tripped open, this clockwise movement ofthe operating member 43 is stopped in a position intermediate its twoextreme positions when a projection 135, molded integral with theoperating member 43, strikes the projection 93 which extends from thetrip member 79.

The interrupting unit is trip-free in that it will auto matically tripopen even though the handle 57 is held in the closed position.

Before the contacts can be closed following an automatic openingoperation, it is necessary to reset and relatch the mechanism. This isaccomplished by moving the operating handle 57 clockwise from thetripped position, to a position slightly beyond the full open position.During this movement, the projection 135 of the operating member 43engages with the projection 93 of the trip member 79, and the tripmember is moved counterclockwise until the latch point 83 thereof isagain supported in the latch position on the ledge 85 of the armature86.

The circuit interrupting unit is tripped automatically andinstantaneously by the electromagnet 97, 117, 86 in response to overloadcurrents above the predetermined value. Upon the flow of current throughthe bimetal 97, a magnetic flux, which is induced around the bimetal,takes the path of least reluctance through the magnet 117, across an airgap 139, and through the armature 86. When an overload current above apredetermined value occurs, the pull of the magnetic flux is of suchstrength that the armature 86 is attracted to the magnet 117 and pivotsin a clockwise direction on the bimetal 97. This movement releases thetrip member 79, and the contacts are opened in the same mannerpreviously described in connection with the thermal tripping operation.

The other compartment 13 of the duplex circuit breaker is empty exceptfor an elongated conductor (FIG. 4) which is part of the cross-overmember indicated generally at 31 and which is connected at its outer endto a terminal structure indicated generally at 127 in FIG. 4. Theterminal structure 127 includes a tapped plate 129 that rides up anddown a screw member 131 to apply pressure to electrically connect aconducting line with the conducting member 125 in a manner well known inthe art. As best seen in FIG. 6, the cross-over member 31 includes thepart 125 and a side part 137 to which is attached the stationary contact21.

When the circuit interrupting unit of the compartment 11 (FIG. 2) isclosed, a circuit passes from the terminal structure 127 (FIG. 4)through the part 125 of the crossover member 31, cross-over part of themember 31, stationary contact 21 (FIG. 2), movable contact 23, switcharm 41, flexible conductor 95, bimetal 97, conducting strip 103, to theterminal structure 104.

The insulating member 19 is provided to insulate the cross-over member31 and the internal conducting parts of the circuit breaker 9 from theconductor (not shown) to which the circuit breaker is mounted by meansof the clip-on members 17. Thus, the circuit breaker 9 (FIGS. 1, 2, 4and 5) can be mounted on a conductor within a common load center orpanelboard, and since the breaker is insulated from the load centerconductor, it can control a circuit that is independent of the loadcenter conductor. This independent circuit can be used for specialapplications, such as to provide power to a water heater during theoff-peak hours at a cheaper rate than the standard power rate. Thisofi-peak power is metered through a meter which is separate from themeter which records the power consumed through the main load center.

Improved means are provided for locking the circuit breaker handle 57 ineither the on or the oi? position. A projection or ridge 141 (FIGS. 1, 4and 5) is molded integral with the housing part 13. As best seen in FIG.4, there is a notch 143 at each of the two opposite ends of theelongated projection 141. A locking member 145 (FIG. 8) which may be arigid wire or other suitable material, is provided with a hook part 147,and a slightly larger hook part 148. When it is desired to lock thehandle 57 in the on or closed circuit position, the hook 147 of thelocking member 145 is hooked over the ridge 141 to engage in the notch143 which is seen to the left as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the otherhook 148 is hooked over the handle 57. When the locking member 145 is inthe position in which it is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, it preventsclockwise movement, or movement to the right of the handle 57 thuspreventing the handle from moving to the off or open circuit position.It is to be understood that the locking member 145, when used to keepthe handle 57 in the closed position, merely locks the circuit breakerto protect against accidental opening. As was previously mentioned, thecircuit interrupting unit of the circuit breaker 9 is trip-free, so thatif an overload current above a predetermined amount occurs while thehandle 57 is held in the closed position, the circuit breaker will stillautomatically trip open in the same manner previously described.

The handle 57 can be locked in the off or open position merely byreversing the member 145 from the position in which it is shown in FIGS.4 and 5 to a position wherein the hook 147 of the member 145 will hookinto the notch 143' which is at the right end (FIGS. 4 and S) of theprojection 141. The hook 148 will then hook over the handle 57 which, inthe open circuit or off position, would be in the position in which itis shown in broken lines in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, the circuit breaker 9 is provided withonly one circuit interrupting unit in only the compartment 11 includingonly one operating handle 57. As can be seen in FIG. 4, an opening 61,which is provided for an operating handle 57 of another circuitinterrupting unit, is closed by means of a sealing member 150 whichsnaps into the position shown in FIG. 4 to isolate the internal part ofthe compartment 13. This member 150 is used to close an opening 61because the housing 11, 13, 15 of the circuit breaker 9, is a housingwhich, for some applications, is used for enclosing a circuit breakerthat includes two circuit interrupting units, similar to the two unitsshown in FIG. 2, each of which includes an operating handle 57. Thistype of circuit breaker is claimed and described in the aforementionedpatent to F. L. Gelzheiser, Patent No. 3,110,786.

When the circuit interrupter which includes two complete interruptingunits such as those shown in the two aforementioned applications isused, it can be understood that the locking member 145 can be used tolock either of the handles 57 in either the on or the off position bymerely changing the position of the locking member 145.

An improved circuit identification tab 149 (FIG. 9) is provided forexhibiting certain information regarding the circuit to be protected bythe circuit breaker. The tab 149 is composed of a flexible plasticmaterial wherein one-half 151 is transparent, and the other half 153 isroughened or etched to enable circuit information to be written thereon.As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the tab 149 fits under two ledges 155 and 157on opposite sides of an opening 159. Two ridges 161), molded integralwith the insulating housing, support an information label 162 which hasinformation written on the lower part thereof. The flexible tab 149 isfirst bent and then it is snapped into the position in which it is shownin FIGS. 4 and 5. As seen in FIG. 5, the roughened part 153 of the tab149 conveys certain circuit information, such as the numeral 8 that iswritten thereon, while certain information on the information label,such as the word information, can be clearly seen through the cleartransparent lower part 151 of the tab. The label 162 may be anunderwriters label.

An improved switching-neutral circuit interrupter 164 is illustrated inFIGS. 10 and 11. This interrupter is constructed to be clipped onto twoconductors in a load center and to control both a power circuit from oneof the conductors and a neutral circuit which is independent of the loadcenter conductors. The construction of this interrupter is such thatwhen the power circuit interrupting unit is tripped open in response tocertain overload conditions, the tripping operation of the power circuitinterrupting unit will operate to open the neutral circuit interruptingunit.

As shown in FIG. 10, the circuit interrupter 164 comprises two circuitbreakers 9 and 9" which are positioned side-by-side and connected in anysuitable manner. The insulating housings 11, 13 and 15 and 11", 13", and15 are identical in construction to the insulating housing 11, 13 and 15of the circuit breaker 9 shown in FIG. 1. The internal mechanism of thecompartment 11 of the circuit breaker 9' is identical to the internalstructure shown in FIG. 2 of the compartment 11 of the circuit breaker 9except for the clip-on type terminal structure which includes twoclip'on type resilient members 161 and M3 that are not insulated fromthe internal mechanism of the breaker as is the clip-on type structure17 shown in FIG. 2. The member 163 (FIG. 10) comprises a body ofconducting material which includes a flat part 155 to which thestationary contact 167 of the interrupting unit 11 is welded orotherwise connected. The other clip-on member 161 is provided merely forsupport of the circuit breaker 9', and the compartment 13 of the circuitbreaker 9' is empty. It can be understood therefore, that the circuitinterrupting unit housed in the compartment 11' of the circuit breaker9' is energized by the conductor (not shown) to which the clip-onstructure 161, 163 is connected, and the circuit breaker 9' will be usedto control this power circuit. The operation of the interrupting unit11' of the circuit breaker 9 is the same as the previously describedoperation of the interrupting unit 11 of the circuit breaker 9.

Except for differences to be hereinafter described, the circuit breaker9 (FIGS. 10 and 11) is constructed exactly like the circuit breaker 9shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. The circuit breaker 9" includes a powercircuit interg rupting unit housing in the compartment 11", a cross-overmember 31 (FIG. 11), similar to the member 31 (FIG. 6) which cross-overmember 31" includes an elongated conducting part (not shown) whichextends through the entire length of the compartment 13" in the samemanner as the part 125 (FIG. 4) extends through the compartment 13. Thedifferences between the circuit breaker 9" shown in FIG. 10 and thecircuit breaker 9 shown in FIG. 1 are that the tripping mechanism 29 andtrip member 79 (FIG. 2) of the circuit breaker 9 are left out of theinterrupting unit of the circuit breaker 9". The circuit breaker 9" isused to switch a neutral circuit, therefore, it need not embodymechanism which will effect an automatic opening operation upon theoccurrence of overload currents passing therethrough. Automatic trippingof the circuit interrupter 164 (FIG. 10) upon the occurrence of overloadconditions will be ffected through the circuit breaker 9 which breakercontrols the power circuit. As seen in FIG. 11, the circuit interruptingunit in the compartment 11" of the breaker 9" includes a flexibleconductor which is connected from the switch arm 41" directly to theterminal member 103". Since there is no trip member in this unit similarto the trip member 79 of FIG. 2, the upper end of the spring 88 is, inthis case, connected to a projection 93" that extends from the frame25". Otherwise, the rest of the structure shown in FIG. 11 is the sameas the structure shown in FIG. 2.

The circuit through the circuit breaker 9 (FIG. 10) extends firstthrough the compartment 13" which compartment is identical to thecompartment 13 shown in FIG. 4, then through the compartment 11 shown inFIGS. 10 and 11. The circuit, therefore, extends from a terminalstructure in the compartment 13" which is identical to the terminalstructure 127 shown in FIG. 4, through an elongated part of thecross-over member 31 (FIGS. 10 and 11) which is identical to the part(FIG. 4) of the cross-over member 31, through the cross-over part of themember 31 (FIGS. 10 and 11), the stationary contact 21", movable contact23", switch arm 41", exible conductor 95", conducting strip 103 to theterminal structure The handles 57 and 57 (FIG. 10) of the circuitbreakers S and 9" respectively, are connected by means of a handle tie171 having cylindrical end parts 173 at its opposite ends. The ends 173of the handle tie 171 engage in opening 174 in the handles 57' and 57"which openings are about .005 of an inch larger in diameter than theends 173, whereby a lost motion connection is provided between thehandles 171 and 174.

The switching-neutral type circuit interrupter 164 shown in FIGS. 10, 11and 12 can be plugged on to two conductors in a load center. The circuitbreaker 9', by means of the clip-on structure 161, 163, will beelectrically connected to the conductor to which it is mounted and,since the clip-on structure 17" of th circuit breaker 9 is insulatedfrom the internal structure of this breaker W, the breaker 1" can beused to control a circuit that is independent of the conductor to whichit is mounted. The breaker 9 is used to switch a separate neutralcircuit in a manner similar to that in which the hereinbefore describedcircuit breaker 9 is used to switch a separate offpeak meter circuit.

The circuit breaker 9' of the switching-neutral circuit interrupter 164(FIG. 10) will operate to control the power circuit of the conductor towhich this breaker is mounted. Since the tripping operation of thecircuit interrupting unit 11' of the circuit breaker 9 is the same asthe tripping operation previously described with reference to theinterrupting unit 11 (FIG. 2) of the circuit breaker Q, attention isdirected to FIGS. 2 and 10 for an understanding of the followingadditional description of the operation of the interrupting unit 11(FIG. 10) of the circuit breaker 9. When the circuit interrupting unit11' is automatically tripped in response to an overload current in thepower circuit by means of a thermal or magnetic tripping operation, thehandle 57' is carried to the tripped or intermediate position by thetension in the spring 88 and the movement of the switch arm 41 in itssame manner previously described. The tripped or intermediate positionof the handle 57' is a position between the extreme on and off positionsof the handle and it is provided to give a visual indication that thecircuit breaker has tripped open. During the start of the trippingmovement, a certain amount of free play or lost motion in the handle tiellFl (FIG. 10) is first taken up. Once this free play is taken up, theinertia of the moving handle 57 of the tripped unit 11', plus thetension in the operating spring 25%, act through the handle tie 171, onthe handle '7" of the adjacent interrupting unit 11" tending to pullthat handle to its open or off position. This movement begins undersomewhat of a shock condition since it begins abruptly as soon as thefree play in the handle tie 171 is taken up. This initial shock, plusthe remainder of the force which is applied through the handle tie 171when the handle 57' of the tripped unit 11' is moved to its intermediateposition, is enough to throw the handle 57" (FIGS. and 11) of theinterrupting unit 11" far enough toward its open or off position to apoint where this spring 88 (FIG. 11) of the neutnal interrupting unit11" will operate to move the contact arm 41" of that unit to its openposition.

This dual operation is possible because the handle 57" need only bethrown a relatively short distance before the spring 88 takes over,collapsing to move its associated mechanism to the open position; andbecause, when the parts are in the closed position, the spring 88" isstretched as much as it is ever stretched during the operation of theinterrupting unit 11'', so that the moving forces need not effect astretching of the spring 88" when they operate to throw the handle 57this relatively short distance. The opening forces, therefore, need notovercome any increase in resistance of spring tension in theinterrupting unit ill in moving the parts of this unit to the openposition. This dual operation is possible also because the modifiedkni-fe-edge-type pivots which are provided between the moving partsprovide that very little physical resistances are encountered duringoperation of the interrupting units.

The neutral circuit interrupting unit 11" of the breaker 9 is shown inthe closed position in FIG. 11. As the handle 57" is moved in aclockwise direction, it moves the upper end of the switch arm 41" to theleft moving the lower end to the right. Only a relatively slightmovement of the operating handle 57" will move the parts to a positionWhere the pivot 55", 51", is to the left of a line drawn between thelower spring support 89" and the pivot 47". Once the parts have reachedthis position, the spring 88" will take over retracting to move theparts to the open or oft position.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that the inventionprovides a circuit breaker with improved means for controlling anoff-peak or separate meter circuit. This circuit breaker clips on to aconductor which supports the breaker in a load center. The internalmechanism of this breaker is insulated from the supporting conductor. Acircuit which is independent of the conductor to which this breaker ismounted, is controlled by operation of this twocompartment circuitbreaker. This circuit extends into one end of a compartment in which ishoused a circuit interrupting unit, through the length of thatcompartment, across to the other compartment, through the length of theother compartment, and out of the other compartment at the same end ofthe circuit breaker at which the circuit entered the breaker. Anadvantage of this circuit breaker is that, although it operates tocontrol a separate circuit, it can be mounted on a conductor in the mainload center, thereby eliminating the need for an extra unsightly andexpensive load center housing.

The invention also provides novel handle locking means. A single lockingmember of simple construction can be used to lock either of twointerrupting units of a duplex type circuit breaker in either the on onthe off position.

An improved circuit identification tab is also provided which has aroughened portion, upon which circuit identification information iswritten, and a clear portion. The flexible tab is snapped into placeover an information label having information written thereon which canbe seen through the clear portion of the tab.

An improved switching-neutral type circuit interrupter is also providedfor use in hazardous gaseous areas wherein it is required that a neutralcircuit be switched or interrupted when an overload occurs interruptingthe power circuit. This improved switching-neutral interrupter includestwo circuit breakers each of which has a clip-0n portion for mountingthe two breakers on two conductors in a load center. One of the circuitbreakers is energized by the conductor to which it is connected and isused to control the power circuit. The other circuit breaker has itsinternal mechanism insulated from its clip-on structure so that aneutral circuit, that is independent of the conductor on which thebreaker is mounted, can be controlled by this breaker. A handle tie isprovided for making a lost-motion connection between the operatinghandles of the power circuit breaker and the neutral circuit breaker.The construction of the operating mechanisms is such that when the powercircuit breaker is automatically tripped in response to an overloadcurrent condition and its operating handle is moved to an intermediateposition, this position, through the handle tie, operates to throw theoperating handle of the neutral circuit breaker to the ofi position toopen the neutral circuit breaker, whereby both the power and the neutralcircuits are interrupted.

Since numerous changes may be made in the abovedescribed constructionand different embodiments of the invention may be made Without departingfrom the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all of the mattercontained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

We claim as our invention:

1. A circuit interrupter comprising, in combination, two circuitbreakers, a first of said circuit breakers comprising an interruptingunit including an operating mechanism which comprises a stationarycontact and a movable contact cooperable with the stationary contact toopen and close a first circuit that comprises said contacts, said firstcircuit breaker comprising a first operating member for effecting manualoperation of said operating mechanism, the second of said circuitbreakers comprising an insulating housing including two compartments, aninsulating partition having an opening therein and separating thecompartments, conducting means in electrical series extending from oneend of said circuit interrupter through one of said compartments thenthrough said opening in said partition then through the othercompartment to said one end of said circuit interrupter to enablecontrol of a second circuit that comprises said conducting means,circuit interrupting means in a first of said compartments com prisingan operating mechanism which comprises contacts separable to open saidsecond circuit, each of said two circuit breakers having a resilientsupport structure comprising two adjacent resilient members engageablewith a support member to support the circuit interrupter, meansinsulating the resilient support structure of said second circuitbreaker from said second circuit, a second operating member in saidsecond circuit breaker for effecting manual operation of the contacts ofsaid second circuit breaker, each of said first and second operatingmembers being manually movable to a first position to effect closing ofthe contacts of its associated circuit breaker and manually movable to asecond position to effect opening of the contacts of its associatedcircuit breaker, said first circuit breaker including meansautomatically operable upon the occurrence of certain abnormal currentconditions to effect automatic opening of the contacts associatedtherewith, the operating mechanism of said first circuit breakercomprising means automatically moving said first operating member to athird position intermediate said first and second positions upon theoccurrence of an automatic opening operation, connecting meansoperatively connecting said first and second operating members when saidfirst circuit breaker is automatically tripped open moving said firstoperating member to its third position, said movement of said firstoperating member operating through said connecting means to move saidsecond operating member to its second position to open the contacts inthe second circuit breaker.

2. A circuit interrupter comprising, in combination, two circuitbreakers, a first of said circuit breakers comprising an interruptingunit including an operating mechanism which comprises a stationarycontact and a movable contact cooperable with the stationary contact toopen and close a first circuit that comprises said contacts, a firstoperating member comprising a first operating handle in said firstcircuit breaker for effecting manual operation of said operatingmechanism, the second of said circuit breakers comprising an insulatinghousing including two compartments, an insulating partition having anopening therein and separating the compartments, conducting means inelectrical series extending from one end of said circuit interrupterthrough one of said compartments then through said opening in saidpartion then through the other compartment to said one end of saidcircuit interrupter to enable control of a second circuit that comprisessaid conducting means, circuit interrupting means in a first of saidcompartments comprising an operating mechanism which comprises contactsseparable to open said second circuit, clip-on means in each of said twocircuit breakers for clipping on to a supporting member, meansinsulating the clip-on means of said second circuit breaker from saidsecond circuit, a second operating member comprising a second operatinghandle in said second circuit breaker for effecting manual operation ofthe contacts of said second circuit breaker, each of said first andsecond operating members being manually movable to a first position toeffect closing of the contacts of its associated circuit breaker andmanually movable to a second position to effect opening of the contactsof its associated circuit breaker, said first circuit breaker includingmeans automatically operable upon the occurrence of certain abnormalcurrent conditions to effect automatic opening of the contactsassociated therewith, the operating mechanism of said first circuitbreaker comprising means automatically moving said first operatingmember to a third position intermediate said first and second positionsupon the occurrence of an automatic opening operation, lost-motionconnecting means operatively connecting said first and second operatinghandles of said first and second operating members respectively whensaid first circuit breaker is automatically tripped open moving saidfirst operating member to its third position, said movement of saidfirst operating member operating through said lost-motion connectingmeans to move said second operating member to its second position toopen the contacts in the second circuit breaker.

3. A circuit breaker comprising an insulating housing structure; a firstexternal terminal supported on said insulating housing structure; asecond external terminal supported on said insulating housing structurein proximity to said first terminal; a pair of cooperable contactssupported within said housing structure; conducting means connectingsaid first terminal, said contacts and said second terminal inelectrical series to enable control of an electric circuit when saidfirst and second terminals are connected in said circuit; saidconducting means being external of said housing structure only wheresaid conducting means is connected to said first and second terminals;and trip means supported within said housing structure and operableautomatically upon the occurrence of certain overload current conditionsto effect opening of said contacts.

4-. A circuit breaker comprising an insulating housing structure; afirst external terminal supported on one end of said housing structure;a second external terminal supported on said one end of said housingstructure; a first conducting means connected to said first terminal andextending into said housing structure at said one end; a secondconducting means connected to said second terminal and extending intosaid housing structure at said one end; a pair of contacts supportedwithin said housing structure; a third conducting means connecting saidfirst conducting means, said contacts and said second conducting meansin electrical series to thereby connect said first terminal, saidcontacts and said second terminal in electrical series; said thirdconducting means being disposed entirely within said housing structurewhereby the circuit from said first terminal to said second terminal isexternal of said housing structure only at said one end where said firstand second terminals are disposed and where said first and secondconducting means extend from said first and second terminalsrespectively into said housing structure; and trip means supportedwithin said housing structure and operable automatically upon theoccurence of certain overload current conditions to effect opening ofsaid contacts.

5. A circuit breaker comprising an insulating housing; said housingcomprising two compartments and insulating barrier means separating saidtwo compartments; a first external terminal supported at one end of saidhousing adjacent a first of said compartments; :1 second externalterminal supported at said one end of said housing adjacent the secondof said compartments; a pair of contacts supported within said firstcompartment; a first conducting means connected to said first terminaland extending into said first compartment at said one end of saidhousing; a second conducting means connected to said second terminal andextending into said second compartment at said one end of said housing;said barrier means having opening means therein in proximity to theother end of said housing; a third conducting means connecting saidfirst conducting means, said contacts and said second conducting meansin electrical series to thereby connect said first terminal, saidcontacts and said second terminal in electrical series; said thirdconducting means extending between said compartments through saidopening means in said barrier means; said third conducting means beingdisposed entirely within said housing whereby the circuit from saidfirst terminal to said second terminal is external of said housing onlyat said one end where said first and second terminals are disposed andwhere said first and second conducting means extend from said first andsecond terminals respectively into said first and second compartmentsrespectively; and trip means supported within said first compartment andoperable automatically upon the occurrence of certain overload currentconditions to effect opening of said contacts.

6. A circuit breaker comprising an insulating housing structure; theconfines of said insulating housing structure comprising two oppositelydisposed end walls, two oppositely disposed side Walls a back and afront; a first terminal supported externally at one end of said circuitbreaker on one of said end walls; a second terminal supported externallyat said one end of said circuit breaker on said one end Wall; a pair ofcooperable contacts supported within said housing structure; conductingmeans connecting said first terminal, said contacts and said secondterminal in electrical series; said conducting means being external ofsaid confines of said housing structure only where said conducting meansis connected to said first and second terminals; a trip means supportedwithin said housing structure and being operable automatically upon theoccurrence of certain overload current conditions to effect opening ofsaid contacts; a resilient support structure integral with said circuitbreaker and supported in proximity to the other end of said circuitbreaker and in proximity to the back of said circuit breaker; and meansinsulating said resilient support structure from said contacts and saidconducting means.

7. A circuit breaker comprising an insulating housing structure; theconfines of said insulating housing structure comprising two oppositelydisposed end walls, two oppositely disposed side walls, a back and afront; a first terminal supported externally at one end of said circuitbreaker on one of said end walls; a second terminal supported externally'at said one end of said circuit breaker on said one end wall; saidhousing structure having opening means in said one end wall; a firstconducting means connected to said first terminal and extending throughsaid opening means into said housing structure; a second conductingmeans connected to said second terminal and extending through saidopening means into said housing structure; a pair of contacts supportedwithin said housing structure; a third conducting means connecting saidfirst conducting means, said contacts and said second conducting meansin electrical series to thereby connect said first terminal, saidcontacts and said second terminal in electrical series; said thirdconducting means being disposed entirely within said confines of saidhousing structure whereby the circuit from said first terminal to saidsecond terminal is external of said confines of said housing structureonly at said one end of said circuit breaker where said first and secondterminals are disposed and where said first and second conducting meansextend from said first and second terminals respectively into saidopening means; a resilient support structure supported on saidinsulating housing structure in proximity to said other end wall and atthe back of said insulating housing structure; said resilient supportstructure being engageable with a load center conductor to support theother end of said circuit breaker on said load center conductor; andmeans insulating said resilient support structure from said contacts andsaid third conducting means.

8. A circuit breaker comprising an insulating housing structure; theconfines of said insulating housing structure comprising two oppositelydisposed end walls, two oppositely disposed side walls, a back and afront; a first terminal supported externally at one end of said circuitbreaker on one of said end walls; a second terminal supported externallyat said one end of said circuit breaker on said one end wall; said oneend wall having opening means therein, a first conducting meansconnected to said first terminal and extending into said housingstructure through said opening means, a second conducting meansconnected to said second terminal and extending into said housingstructure through said opening means; a pair of contacts supportedwithin said housing structure; a third conducting means connecting saidfirst conducting means, said contacts and said second conducting meansin electrical series to thereby connect said first terminal, saidcontacts and said second terminal in electrical series; said thirdconducting means being disposed entirely within said confines of saidhousing structure whereby when said terminals are connected in a circuitthe part of said circuit that extends from said first terminal to saidsecond terminal is external of said confines of said housing structureonly at said one end of said circuit breaker where said first and secondterminals are disposed and where said first and second conducting meansextend from said first and second terminals respectively into saidopening means; trip means supported within said housing structure andoperable automatically upon the occurrence of certain overload currentconditions to effect opening of said contacts; said front having anopening therein; an operating handle projecting externally out of saidhousing structure through said opening in said front; said operatinghandle operating upon manual reciprocal movement between two positionsto open and close said contacts; a resilient support structurecomprising two adjacent resilient members supported on said housingstructure in proximity to the other end wall of said housing structureand at the back of said housing structure; said two adjacent resilientmembers being resiliently engageable with a control center conductor tosupport the other end of said circuit breaker on said control centerconductor; and means insulating said resilient support structure fromsaid contacts and said third conducting means.

9. A circuit breaker comprising an insulating housing; the confines ofsaid insulating housing comprising two oppositely disposed end walls,two oppositely disposed side walls, a back and a front; said insulatinghousing comprising two compartments and insulating barrier meansseparating said two compartments; a first external terminal supported atone end of said insulating housing on one of said end walls adjacent oneof said compartments; at second external terminal supported on said oneend wall adjacent the other of said compartments; a pair of contactssupported within said one compartment; said barrier means having openingmeans therein in proximity to the other end of said insulating housing;conducting means passing through said opening means in said barriermeans and connecting said first terminal, said contacts and said secondterminal in electrical series; said conducting means being external ofsaid confines of said insulating housing only where said conductingmeans is con nected to said first and second external terminals; tripmeans supported within said one compartment and operable automaticallyupon the occurrence of certain overload current conditions to effectopening of said contacts; said housing having an opening in said frontadjacent said one compartment; an operating handle projecting out fromsaid one compartment through said opening; said operating handleoperating upon manual reciprocal movement thereof between two positionsto open and close said contacts; a resilient clip-on support structurecomprising two adjacent resilient members disclosed at the back of saidinsulating housing and at the other end of said insulating housing; andmeans insulating said resilient support structure from said contacts andsaid conducting means.

10. A circuit interrupter comprising two breakers in a side-by-siderelationship, each of said breakers comprising an insulating housingstructure,

(a) a first of said breakers comprising a first terminal structuremounted externally on a first of said hous ing structures at one end ofsaid interrupter, said first breaker comprising a second terminalstructure at the other end of said interrupter, said second terminalstructure comprising a resilient supporting terminal structure, a firstpair of cooperable contacts supported within said first housingstructure, first conducting means connecting said first pair of contactsin electrical series with said first and second terminal structures, afirst operating mechanism supported within said first housing structureand comprising a first operating member extending out from said firsthousing structure, said first operating member operating upon manualreciprocal movement be tween two positions to open and close said firstpair of contacts, trip means supported within said first housingstructure,

(b) the second of said breakers comprising a third terminal structuremounted externally on the second of said housing structures at said oneend of said interrupter and a fourth terminal structure mountedexternally on said second housing structure at said one end of saidinterrupter, a second pair of contacts supported within said secondhousing structure, a second conducting means connecting said second pairof con-tacts in electrical series with said third and fourth terminalstructures, a second operating mechanism supported within said secondhousing structure and comprising a second operating member extending outfrom said second housing structure, said second operating memberoperating upon manual reciprocal movement between two positions to openand close said second pair of contacts,

(c) means operatively connecting said first and second operatingmembers, and upon the occurrence of certain overload current conditionsthrough said first conducting means conducting means said trip meansoperating automatically to effect opening of said first pair of contactsand to effect movement of said connected operating members to therebyopen said second pair of contacts.

nism supported within said first housing structure and comprising afirst operating member extending out from said first housing structure,said first operating member operating upon manual reciprocal movementbetween two positions to open and close said first pair of contacts,trip means supported within said first housing structure,

11. A circuit interrupter comprising two breakers in a side-by-siderelationship, each of said breakers comprising an insulating housingstructure,

(a) a first of said breakers comprising a first terminal (b) the secondof said breakers comprising a third terminal structure mountedexternally on the second of said housing structures at said one end ofsaid interrupter and a fourth terminal structure mounted structuremounted externally on a first of said housing structures at one end ofsaid interrupter, said first breaker comprising a second terminalstructure interrupter and a fourth terminal structure mounted externallyon said second housing structure at said one end of said interrupter, asecond pair of contacts externally on said second housing structure atsaid one end of said interrupter, a second pair of contacts supportedwithin said second housing structure, a

comprising two adjacent resilient members at the second conducting meansconnecting said second pair other end of said interrupter, a first pairof cooperof contacts in electrical series with said third and ablecontacts supported Within said first housing fourth terminal structures,a second operating mechstructure, a first conducting means connectingsaid anism supported within said second housing strucfirst pair ofcontacts in electrical series with said ture and comprising a secondoperating member first and second terminal structures, a first operatingextending out from said second housing structure, mechanism supportedwithin said first housing strum said second operating member operatingupon manture and comprising a first operating member extendualreciprocal movement between two positions to ing out from said firsthousing structure, said first open and close said second pair ofcontacts, lostoperating member operating upon manual reciprocal motionconnecting means connecting said first and movement between twopositions to open and close second operating members, and upon theoccurrence said first pair of contacts, trip means supported withofcertain overload current conditions through said in said first housingstructure, first conducting means said trip means operating (b) thesecond of said breakers comprising a third automatically to effectopening of said first pair of terminal structure mounted externally onthe second contacts and to move said first operating member to of saidhousing structures at said one end of said thereby operate saidlost-motion connecting means to move said second operating member tothereby open said second pair of contacts.

13. A circuit interrupter comprising two breakers in a side-by-siderelationship, each of said breakers comprising an insulating housingstructure,

(a) a first of said breakers comprising a first terminal and fourthterminal structures, a second operating mechanism supported within saidsecond housing structure and comprising a second operating memto effectmovement of said connected operating members to thereby open said secondpair of contacts.

structure mounted externally on a first of said housing structures atone end of said interrupter, said first circuit breaker comprising asecond terminal ber extending out from said second housing structurestructure at the other end of said interrupter, said in proximity tosaid first operating member, said second terminal structure comprising asupporting second operating member operating upon manual terminalstructure, said second supporting terminal reciprocal movement betweentwo positions to open structure comprising two adjacent resilientmembers, and close said second pair of contacts, a resilient one of saidadjacent resilient members comprising a supporting structure comprisingtwo adjacent resilconducting member, a first pair of cooperable conientmembers supported on said second housing structacts supported withinsaid first housing structure, a ture at said other end of saidinterrupter, means infirst conducting means connecting said first pairof sulating said resilient supporting structure from said contacts inelectrical series with said first terminal second conducting means andsaid second pair of structure and said conducting resilient member, a tt first operating mechanism supported within said first (c) meansoperatively connecting said first and second housing structure andcomprising a first switch arm operating members, and upon the occurrenceof cersupporting one of said first pair of contacts, a latched tainoverload conditions through said first conductreleasable member, a firstspring means connected ing means said trip means operating automaticallyunder tension at one end on said first switch arm to effect opening ofsaid first pair of contacts and and at the other end on said releasablemember, trip means operable automatically upon the occurrence of certainoverload current conditions to release said 12. A circuit interruptercomprising two breakers in a side-by-side relationship, each of saidbreakers comprising an insulating housing structure,

(a) first of said breakers comprising a first terminal releasable memberto thereby move said releasable member to operate said first springmeans to move said first switch arm to open said first pair of contacts,a first operating member extending from said structure mountedexternally on a first of said housing structures at one end of saidinterrupter, said breaker comprising a second terminal structure atfirst housing structure, said first operating member operating uponmanual movement from a first position to a second position to open saidfirst pair of conthe other end of said interrupter, said secondtertacts, said first operating member operating upon minal structurecomprising a resilient clip-on type manual movement from a secondposition to a first supporting terminal structure, said clip-on typesupposition to close said first pair of contacts,

porting terminal structure comprising two adjacent (b) the second ofsaid breakers comprising a third resilient members, one of said adjacentresilient terminal structure mounted externally on the second membersbeing a conducting resilient member, a of said housing structures atsaid one end of said first pair of cooperable contacts supported withininterrupter and a fourth terminal structure mounted said first housingstructure, a first conducting means externally on said second housingstructure at said connecting said first pair of contacts in electricalone end of said interrupter, a second pair of contacts series with saidfirst terminal structure and said consupported within said secondhousing structure, a ducting resilient member, a first operatingmechasecond conducting means connecting said second ll Z pair ofcontacts in electrical series with said third and fourth terminalstructure, a second operating mechanism supported within said secondhousing structure and comprising a second switch arm supporting one ofsaid second pair of contacts, a second spring means, and a secondoperating member extending from said second housing structure, saidsecond operating member operating upon manual reciprocal movementbetween two operating positions to operate said second spring means tomove said secsaid two operating positions to open said second pair ofcontacts.

18 separated by barrier means, a third terminal structure mountedexternally on said second insulating housing structure adjacent one ofsaid compartments at said one end of said interrupter, a terminal fourthstructure mounted externally on said second insulating housing structureadjacent the other of said compartments at said one end of saidinterrupter, a second pair of contacts supported within said secondinsulating housing structure, a

second conducting means connecting said second switch arm to (Jpsrl andClose said sscond P pair of contacts in electrical series with saidthird of Contacts, and fourth terminal structures, said barrier meanslost-motion Connecting means operatively connecthaving opening meanstherein in proximity to the ing said first and second Operating msmbsrs,p other end of said interrupter, said second conductthe occurrence ofcertain overload current conditions ing means extending from one to theother Of Said through said first conducting means said trip meanscompartments h h id Opening maans a automatically operating to releasesaid releasable d Operating n'lgchanisfn supported ithi id m m r to movesaid releasable membsr and second insulating housing structure andcomprising Operate said first spring means to move said first a secondoperating member extending out from said switch arm to p said first P ofContacts and second insulating housing structure, said second opto movesaid first operating member from said first crating ma 'nbef operatingupon manual reciprocal Position JOWard said second Position which movemovement between two positions to open and close ment of said firstoperating member operates through said Second i f Contacts, a ili t lisaid lost-motion connecting means to move said Supporting Structuremounted on Said Second second Operating member from one to the other ofsulating housing structure at said other end of said interrupter, saidresilient clip-0n supporting structure comprising two adjacent resilientmembers,

14. A circuit interrupter comprising two breakers in a side-by-siderelationship, each of said breakers comprising an insulating housingstructure,

(a) a first 'of said breakers comprising a first terminal structuremounted externally on a first of said insulating housing structures atone end of said interrupter, said second terminal structure comprising aterminal structure at the other end of said inter- 3 rupter, said sesondterminal structure comprising a resilient clip-on supporting terminalstructure, said resilient clip-on supporting terminal structurecomprising two adjacent resilient members, one of said adjacentresilient members comprising a conducting 40 resilient member, a firstpair of cooperable contacts supported Within said first insulatinghousing structure, a first conducting means connecting said first pairof contacts in electrical series with said first means insulating saidresilient clip-on supporting structure from said second pair of contactsand said second conducting means,

(c) lost-motion connecting means operatively connecting said first andsecond operating members, upon the occurrence of certain overloadcurrent conditions through said first conducting means said trip meansoperating automatically to effect opening of said first pair of contactsand to effect movement of said first operating member to thereby operatesaid second operating member through said lost-motion connecting meansto open said second pair of contacts.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS terminalstructure and said conducting resilient mern- 1,774,540 9/ Alsakef fit20044 her, a first operating mechanism supported withi 2,551,397 5/31Rfiv fe 200--116 said first insulating housing structure and comprising2,810,048 10/ 57 ChrlStenSen 200116 a first operating member extendingout from said 2,322,446 2/58 Srsnback et 200116 first housing structure,said first o eratin mb 2,854,555 9/ 58 ulunds 200167 operating uponmanual reciprocal movement b 2,833,496 4/59 Whlte 200-167 tween twopositions to open and close aid fir t pair 2,905,795 9/59 PlatZ 200-167of contacts, trip means supported within aid f t 2,937,248 5/ 60Mlchfittl 200-44 housing structure, ,7 1/ 61 I gwersen 200-ll6 (b) thesecond of said breakers comprising the second of said insulating housingstructures, said second insulating housing structure comprising aunitary insulating housing comprising two compartments KATHLEEN H.CLAFFY Primary Ex miner.

RICHARD M. WOOD, BERNARD A. GILHEANY,

Examiners.

3. A CIRCUIT BREAKER COMPRISING AN INSULATING HOUSING STRUCTURE; A FIRSTEXTERNAL TERMINAL SUPPORTED ON SAID INSULATING HOUSING STRUCTURE; ASECOND EXTERNAL TERMINAL SUPPORTED ON SAID INSULATING HOUSING STRUCTUREIN PROXIMITY TO SAID FIRST TERMINAL; A PAIR OF COOPERABLE CONTACTSSUPPORTED WITHIN SAID HOUSING STRUCTURE; CONDUCTING MEANS CONNECTINGSAID FIRST TERMINAL, SAID CONTACTS AND SAID SECOND TERMINAL INELECTRICAL SERIES TO ENABLE CONTROL OF AN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT WHEN SAIDFIRST AND SECOND TERMINALS ARE CONNECTED IN SAID CIRCUIT; SAIDCONDUCTING MEANS BEING EXTERNAL OF SAID HOUSING STRUCTURE ONLY WHERESAID CONDUCTING MEANS IS CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND TERMINALS;AND TRIP MEANS SUPPORTED WITHIN SAID HOUSING STRUCTURE AND OPERABLEAUTOMATICALLY UPON THE OCCURRENCE OF CERTAIN OVERLOAD CURRENT CONDITIONSTO EFFECT OPENING OF SAID CONTACTS.